Stone gatherer



E. s. RIBBANS s'rona GATHERER Filed D ec. 2:. 1921 3 Shh 811.01; 1

July 27 1926. 1,593,952.

E. s. RIBBANS s'ronr: (Tammi Filed Dec. 23. .1921 s Sheets-Shot 5munllllllmllllllllmml' 1| w Patented July 27,.

EDGAR s. .mnmmsg or inhuman; mew 's-s ssy.

i j E GATH R *Kpplicationffiledmecembei' 2s;-2192"1. isarisiwm ssaguefinventionmelates wto new "andiuseful forward-suds ;n1a,y-;he raised and"lowered-in improvements :in a stone rgatherer Sand-has for.itsprincipala- -object a device-10f. this:

' character'which'niayhewdrawn over a-ewoadway or fie1d,2picking'upthe-stones, elevating them, endbdeliveringdnto: anneeepteele, the

; reeeptzuile preferably being in the form of a jwagon drivenialongsideof the .gathe'rer; Another v oloje'ct v =res=idesf in %the provision ofl a novel form 10f helevator which may be swung to either side of thegatherer so as to deliver the=-stones cinema; receptacle oneither-.s'i'deofrthe gathererp i j Still :anotherobjeetnconsists :injproviding a plurality ofj'gathering fingers: for "deposit-'-ingx.the;stones*upon the elevetonsaidffingers being yieldable so aszto:Qgiwe, in= case 10f e1"1 ,gagement with an unyield-lng objeet, -;to.prewent breakage thereoi,

:sen another 0b, eet I-resldes @111 -the previ- .s'ion-:of novelmeansdfor adjusting and operzatingthrzsssevemlzprants;themiovementof theZmachine cover :the: ground serving: zas-the ;power :fortransmitting-auction tfoflthe gath- Y "e'r ing-fingers-anditheelevators;

Withthe aboVem-ndfothenaoheetsin View, which will :appear 188 the'idescription 1 proceeds,: my invention consists in the noveid'etails of.construetion daoribed: andi11ustrated in the: followingiraspecificationand claims; and while I Have illustrated-and described the preferred;embodiments of, the

invention :it willw'be understood that such I .changes may'bee'made asWill -2111 within-the *seope offthe appendedwelaims. in

In the-drawings.-:'- f M v' Fig. 1 ise top plan.

I Fig. 2 isla sideselevation Fig. 3 ishaireanelewat-ion. Fig.4 isatra'nsverse verticalsectionishowingtheguides for the gathering fingerswith .parts2shoWn-i-in 1e1evation.

' Fig. :5 is :a, .fragmentaL-s deeelewaition;

Fig. -'6 "1s -a- .transverse: vertical, section through one ofthe-gathering teeth -and sup,-

' l flea-rs andnopemtingxforktherefor; I

- :In-the drawings 1 indieatesa .reap-axle e Lupon whicheare lrotatahl-yunountedthe -ground wheels '2, .and=-3 indicates the side -rai1s. of ,a.fonwerdly (and; downwardly extending. frame thennea r endsiof which areparts shown insection; ofoneof-ithegather-e pit ota']ly "to the 'mile'l. so that-the V v bolts 6 or, other gsuitable. fastening meat-11s.

"As will-fbenoteditheirear edge-ofthis ba-n 5 .is

lflslightly fsp-ace dl tlfromg the lfeipward edge of 5 thegplatformhsoc-asto provides recess for theuieeeption; of the headseofbolts 7 whichv u are used for :sec1 1ringthe -;fonwafdl y=egitend-' ingteeth 8- to1the bar INuts 9r wilLbe .re-

ceived on the holts J eto engage 'theupper' '7 -facesgofthe teeth 8,:which are ,of laflcona j struetionl similar to thosexused-inLheirvesiiei'si end the like. h v t Pivotally conneetedxtothewside :Tailsf3,

atlOyisia iotkedFheemfll tof the..forwatd i end of v which is? connectedthe chess. bar .12 having ,piyotaltyi-conne'cted thereto 13 then dretttongue 1A to which the usuel Qtorm K of w-hi-fiietree, not kshoW-n, mayJbfi connected.

Rotata hly connectedito each end ofl the i cross bar ,12.is an angleiironnaixle 16 ucamyingwthe 1 ground. wheels .17; Angerm '18 t isLfonmedionn n 1; secured toneachfo'zf the. wentical portions-0f :1 theaxle and a {link -19 connects ,these (Farms 7 wwith'the draft tonguelAxsO 'thatntheax les,

end1their associated -,whee1s,{ Wi 1-1 be turned ,as the draftltonguefis swung. irom one side to thefothen I t lt will be understoodthat draftv animals: will p'referahly "he used 'for drewing the 13stratus over nthezgpoundg, Supponted; upon theafonwendiylextending -f1ame is .a.seatg20.-having'a foot restl2'1 and 1 I 1 connected to.thefh-eam-Ill Lin ,any suitable -manne1r,"such.gs by boltsor rivets ladjecent' =the rear"piyoted end is apstandend22fhevling a. toothed-;sgment 23 v-secure d: fltheitet'o.

lever j24g gis pivotelly connected. to [the standand at 25 end lhas a'pziwl'Q'Sholaptekilfito engage the toothed ,s egment.23, jthefpa wl 26I beingl operstedflhythe lhandle+fi7 connected-"to ethe pewl byl ineanfsio'f fiheQIf Odi 2 8 ex- I tends parallel with .th-ellevier 124:.'lsecured between the side-tails 3 ,mo'fathe forwardlyaextendi ng frame,adjacent the .foi'War-d 1161 .thereof,warekthe vertically' extendingbars L29, 7

" the upperrends of; which .siie iconneetedihy .a Y I c 3 17 1 bar e PPQtedn La, transversely[extending iheniher which is secured between'the;sides 13,-.Afframia A31 straddles "th'eJoeeni1'1, the uppeiflend-Qbeingconnected io' the ifoi'lward "end of Ithe'le -er Q24, andltheflowerlends a reseonnected toi v portions 33 and the curved ends 34. A coil'spring 35 surrounds each pair of the side bars 29 and'engages the'undersurface of the portions 33 of the gathering fingers so as to normallyhold the same in engagement with the roller 32. Secured to the rear faceof the curved portions 34, of the gathering fingers, are the shoe orblades 36, each of these shoes or blades having an eye 37, formed on itsrear face, which extends into an opening 38 formed 1n the fingers, a pinbeing nserted through. the transversely extending openlng 39 and the eye37 for pivotally connecting the said shoe or blade to the gatheringfintending around the sprocket wheel 53.

will be'noted that the sprocket wheel 53 is gers. An opening 40 isformed adjacent the upper edge of each of these shoes or blades '36 anda bolt 41 passes through the opening andthroughthe curved portion of thefingers, and as shown, a 0011 spring 42 sur rounds the bolt 41 betweenthe outer face of the fingers and the adjustable nut 43 received 45passes for reciprocating and raising and lowering the fingers, the endsof the rods being supported in the sides 3, said crank arm having asprocket wheel46 secured 'to one end thereof and around which a chain 47passes, the oppositeend of the chain passing around a sprocket wheel 48secured to one of the side rails 3 of the forwardly extending frame andoperated in a manner to be later described. A plurality of springfingers 49 are secured to the horizontal portion 33 of the gatheringfingers" and extend downwardly at an angle in front of the shoes orblades 36' as shown. 1

Secured adjacent the ends of the bar 5 which carries the teeth 8, arethe side irons '50 which prevent the stones being gathered from passingoff to the side of the machine.

Secured to a shaft 51, which'is'rotatably mounted in the side rails 3 isa sprocket wheel 51 around which extends an endless chain 52, theforward end of said chain ex- It of less diameter than the sprocketwheel 51 and therefore throws the upper flight of the chain downwardlytoward theforward end. Secured to the shaft 51, between the side rails'3 is a drum 54 around which operates the conveyor 55, the forward endof the conveyor extending around a small drum 56 mounted between theside rails 3 adjacent the forward ends thereof. As quite clearly shownin the drawings the upper flight of the conveyor 55 extends at an angleso as to elevate the-stones received thereon. Secured to and adapted torotate with one of the ground wheels 2 is a gear 57 which meshes with-agear 58 loosely mounted upon the shaft51. This gear wheel 58 has teeth59 formed on its inner face and adapted to interlock with teeth 60formed on the outer face of a sprocket wheel 61 which is slidably keyedto the shaft 51. A spring 62 normally forces the sprocket wheel 61towards the sprocket wheel 58 so that the clutch teeth thereof willlever 64 is lowered the sprocket 61 will be forced away from thesprocket 58, against the action of the coil spring 62, and dis engagethe clutch teeth. When this is done the sprocket wheel 58 will operateas an idler and the conveyor 55 will be stopped. It will be noted thatthe lever 64 is so positioned as to be in easy reach of the operatorseated in the seat 20 and that thelever 24 also extends within reach ofthe operator. Secured to the forwardly-extending frame is a rearwardextension or platform 67 which has rotatably mounted thereon the Usnaped frame 68, said frame having a downwardly extending projection 69received in a socket formed in said platform. A bevel gear wheel 7 0 isrotatably mountedupon the projection 69, between the frame 68 andplatform 67, said bevel gear wheel 70 having meshing therewith a smallbevel gear 71 secured to the end of the transversely extending shaft 72.A sprocket wheel 73 is secured to the oppositeend of the shaft 72 andhas extending therearound a sprocket chain 74 which also extends aroundthe sprocket wheel 61. Meshing with the. bevel gear 70 is also thevertically extending bevel I Sprocket anemone scribed.Extending;,.-downwardly at an ,an

. gle, from. the auppenendwfof 'the conveyor-7-9, .is az'c'hute' orplatform 80 whichitlreastones 1 are delivered from'the saidiconveyore7:9 for discharge into "a *wagon or other :recepta'cle;

:chute 81 is connected to the standards i '6'3' inv such arinanner. asto receive the stones from the conveyor 55' and "discharge tliem'nntothe conveyorw79; v chute :81 -will' preferably .beconnectedxtorthe; standards .meansrof the arrnsr82. a s: I i l ihghorizontalibar 1 83 is -secur'ed to the upiPGT'BIIdS'HOf the standards63za nd carriesthe Y transversely: spaced J rotatable drums 84- and aguide for thewheels89 secured to the 84:5; :chain 85 has (one endconnectedgito the' drum 84" and the opposite end: connected --to'oneside 'ofuthewconveyor 79-whereas a I chain 85 rhasone end' 'connected tothe drum], 84 and the .opposite'endconnecmdto the. oppositevside ofthierconveyor :79. :Rotatably .mountedxon each' ien'd o'f'the bar; '83are iphl leys 87 around which the chains 85 andv85 pass, "said pulleys"actingas aguides l'forl the 1 achains. When'the conveyor ,:is .tobeswurig from one side to-"the: other i one :of the chains rotation ofthe drums. The-drums maybe provided with crank handles 88 or if desiredaninterchangeablehanifle may be provided. A downwardly inclinedsemicirculartrack 89 is secured to the standards Y63 and formsundersideof the conveyor. This track not I only acts as a support forthe conveyor but when it is desired to swing the same, being downwardlyextended, will give an initial movement to the conveyor to start itsswing. .EXtending rearwardly from the'bar83 is-an arm- 90 having thevertically spaced extensions'91, the outerends of which are flaredoutwardly as shown at 92. A pulley 93 is rotatably mounted between theextensions 1 91 and "forms; a bearing for the chains 85 and 85, at thesame time properly positioning the chains sothat the conveyor 79 may beswung from side to side.

From the above description it will be" seen that I have provided a;stone gatherer I which may be drawn over theground to collect thestones, the-machine being drawn by draft animals, or, if desired, by atractor.

By swinging the tongue 14 from one side to the other the wheels 17 willbe turned to guide the apparatus and the ground Wheels .2 serve totransmit power to the various operating parts. The lrotationeofthe'ground wheels 2 rotates the gear wheel 57 which, meshing withthegear wheel 58, when the teeth 59and 60of thegear 58 and sprocket 61,mesh, will rotate the sprocket 61 and the shaft 51. The rotation of theshaft 51" rot-a te s'ithe drumiMeandcinjlturn theielevator "55; The.operation of-thelelevator155through (means ofi the chain! 52 alsoinotate's the .gear' *wheel :48 which through 5the chain 47:10pm- "atesthe crank 'sh'afti45f T1lhe chain 52amon the inner end of-T thetshaf-t'to {which iis secured the-gear .48. The rotation of the: crank which,zthrongh means'ofithefishoesior "blades 36 gather the stones upon the'cr'oss barkt and from-'there on to the 'cconveyor 155'. It will benoted that the gathering fingers are 5 :5 gagesand-operates'aigearwheeljnot'shown,

-shaft-reciproc'ates th'e. gathering fllfingers p also raised andlowered by the crank -"shaft "and thewhorizontalf portions 33 1'thereofare F,

' guidedby'fth'e 'barsx29 and by means: o'fthe spri'ngs 35 arelh'eld'inengagement with the Y rollers-32,".Should "a flat obstacle' -be:flen-gI'co-untered by the .point of the fshoe' onib'lade,

'36 the spring 'will be/pressed to-wallow the gathering fingers toyield, iwithoutrbreakrounding the bolt 41 Wil'lFib' 1 compressedso thatthe :said shoe or blade361 willvsswing upon its pivot:topasssloverithe':said obstacle. The stones are raised by the. conveyor oo *Ja'nddropped-froin the upper-z'end-.Lthereof .into .-the chute '81from'whic'hth'ey arevdef 'posited upon'the.cntlle'ssf'iconveyor 79; Thisconveyor 7 9 is directed towards'the sidle aof j v the gatherer. andthe-:stonesraised thereby rare discharged;onto athe"platform .80 from fwhich they are delivered'ilnto a wagon or" other receptacle drawnalong'besidethe'gatherer. The gear wheel. 57 is'rotated by the groundwheel 2 and meshing with thegear I v wheel 58 rotates the'sprocketwhe'e'l 61; The

sprocket wheel 7 S'is driven throughimeans of thechain 74v and rotatesthe, horizontal shaft and bevel gear71. The bevel gear 71 rotates thebevel gear which meshing with'the bevel'gear 75 operates the side conveyor 7 9L ThBBIICllGSS conveyor 79 is sup 1* ported by a frame which ismounted upon the shaft 76'carried by the U-shaped frame 68. The U-shapedframe 68 may be rotated 1 upon itsprojection 69, entering the "socket,

to draw the conveyor to either side of'the gatherer. The swinging ofthis conveyor is accomplished through means of the drums 1 .84 and 84and'associated chains 85 and "85 connected to, the conveyor. It will benoted that as one of the chains is wound upon its associated drum theotherwill be unwound from. its associated drum. The downwardly.ieXtending semi-circular trackg89 supports the-conveyor'when it isswung'fro-m side; to

sideandNat the same time :will give the con vey'or its initial movementto swing when the chainsaw loosened. Theteeth ,8may be raised or loweredtowards or away from the surface of the ground by means of the lever24fandlwhen-it is desired to stopthe v operation of theconveyorstheflever 64 is -fl lowered so that the wedge shaped forked end66 will be forced between the sides of the gear 58 and sprocket 61,thereby forcing the clutch face of the sprocket 61 away from the clutchface of the gear 58 and placing the spring 62 under compression. YVhenthe wedge shaped forked end 66 is raised the spring 62 will return theparts to their original position with the clutch faces interlocking.When the wedge shaped forked member is lowered to separate the clutchfaces it will be seen that the gear 58 operates upon the shaft 51 as anidler.

It will be noted that I have provided a machine for the purposedescribed which is in the form of a unitary device, the elevatingconveyors and the gathering fingers be ing operated through the groundwheels of the vehicle itself. It is only necessary to attach the draftanimals or a tractor to the tongue 14,110 other power whatsoever beingnecessary, such as expensive engines or similar motive power, w

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stone gatherer comprising a frame,

a conveyor, fingers for gathering the stones upon the conveyor, andyielda-ble guides for said fingers.

2. A stone gatherer comprising a supporting frame, a conveyor carried bythe supporting frame, fingers for gathering the stones on to theconveyor, guides for said fingers, rollers carried by said guides forengaging the upper surfaces of the fingers,

and springs carried by said guides for en fingers, and means forimparting reciprocat-- ing and vertical movement to the fingers.

4. A stone gatherer comprising a. supporting frame, a conveyor,yieldable guides, gathering fingers having a portion operable in theguides, and means for imparting a sliding and swinging movement to thefingers.

5. A stone gatherer comprising a supporting frame, a conveyor, yieldableguides, gathering fingers having a portion operable in the guides,yieldable blades carried bv the gathering fingers, and means forimparting asliding and swinging movement to'the fingers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EDGAR S. RIBBANS.

